Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-29

It Is not necessary to confuse the question OF the
alleged necessity OF an increase In water rents
with the question of alleged misconduct in the
water department. The charges OF misapproprfa-
ton OF funds IN that department, outside of the
conceded early defalcation, are properly viewed as
suricfently serious to warrant reply, and reply
L. promised. Some Of the matters which the Com
mtssioners claim to have been over ooked by Mr..
Crane In his comparisons and conclusions, and
which are thought TO prove his figures misleading.
have already been suggested by them in inter-
views published In THE STAR. The formal state
ment Is expected TO meet all the .SsueS On this
branch OF the discussion, and Will be awaited
with interest. The investigation and statement
of the accounts OF the water department cannot
be made too thoroughly. Even concerning the
ancient defalcation, the public would take q mel
ancholy satisfaction In learning the exact amount
Of which IL has been robbed, and exactly who par
tiefpated In the robbery, even though there be
little or prospect of either recovering the money
or Furnishing the offenders. 1t would also be in
tsrested to know how far past shortages and
losses increase the present water rates.
The question OF the present is, however, "How
much ought the people Of Washington To pay for
water" THIS question does not need to await the
vfnd1catfon OF the present management or the
water department, and is affected by the charges
Of Misrepresentation, &c, only SO far as
Investigation may show how much of our rents
past waste and defalcation. The people of the
city have not expected an increase In water
rates They desire an ample water supply at as
cheap rates as the arrangement with the United
states Government will permit. To this end they
expect economy In the working OF the water depart
ment and the close collection OF all just bills.
Concerning the Waterman taxes, perhaps ma
torfty think, not unreaSOnabIy, that persons who
have at their own expense connected themselves
in
position to pay water rents TO the District have
nished an equivalent for Waterman taxes and
should not be additionally taxed this score with
out reimbursement Of their outlay for service pipes
II necessary, however, the courts can decide the
equities of such cases. and whatever Is justly due
the District should be collected. Since the Com
misSioners' recent diSavowal Of Capt. Symons
recommendation there is no danger OF an increase
OF the Waterman tax, and the only question re-
manning under this head Is whether In view of
the great decrease in the price OF pipe the tax
could not be reduced The Commissioners also
0tscaim any general increase of water-rents under
the new schedule, but only establish that the
total increase IS not very heavy. and as they
think, eQuitably distributed. The statements
concerning the necessity OF an increase OF
rents In the Commissioners and Capt. Symons'
annual reports, the statement OF Capt. Symons
that the rates had been increased in order to raise
Some $6S, 900 required. and Mr.. Bonds defense or
this increase, may have given the impression Of
greater additional burden than has actually been
imposed, but an enlargement Of the rents even by
$4,000 Is q substantial increase, whether equit-
ably distributed or not. II, with economical and
business Ike methods In the water department.
And q cessation by Congress OF efforts to impose
burdens upon the water-takers which belong upon
AL citizens, upon Washingtonians at all nothing
les than the present rates will suffice the people
OF washington Will make no complaints
Even In that case, however, they would
ask relief from two exasperating suggestions:
First, while the water supply lis wasted In the
national buildings and reservations, and scarcely
reaches parts OF the city, that they use and enjoy
greater amount or water per capita than the
people OF any other city: Second, that the wafer
rents here are less than IN other Cities and that
this fact alone should prevent complaint at any
proposed increase. The people OF Washington
Tor years paid the expenses of a national
city without the assistance Of taxes or their
equivalent from the owner Of one-half the CITY
property,-the United States government II the
city derived any minor benefits during this period
as for instance in having A system OF waterworks
constructed for It, IL Is entitled TO that benefit to
It's FULL extent. Under the peculiar circumstances
water should cost less here than In other cities
and neither Congress nor others in authority
should scheme to impose improper burdens upon
the water takers IN order to raise the rents to the
amount which some other people are compelled to
pay.